Toddler Solutions
from a nurse mom
Most kids are ready somewhere between 18 months and 3 years, which is a huge range. Watch for signs instead of the calendar.
Readiness signs
- Stays dry for about 2 hours at a time, or wakes up dry from naps
- Notices, or hates, a wet or dirty diaper
- Hides to poop
- Can follow two-step directions
- Can pull pants up and down, at least mostly
- Shows interest in the bathroom or in what the grown-ups are doing in there
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When you start
- Pick a stretch with nothing big going on: no new sibling, no move, no daycare switch
- Keep a potty in the room where you spend the most time
- Use the same simple words every time
- Stay neutral about accidents: “Pee goes in the potty. Let’s clean up.”
Regression is normal
Big changes, illness, or a new baby can knock them back a few steps. It’s temporary.
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Nurse note: call the pediatrician for pain when peeing, a sudden return of accidents after being fully trained, or hard, painful poops. Constipation is a very common hidden reason potty training stalls.
General information from a nurse mom, not medical advice for your child. When in doubt, call your pediatrician.
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